Electric switch



F. P. GATES. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILE D MAY 8,1919.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

anvemm Frauen/c F. Gar-5s. 3E1 attocnew F. P. GATES.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, I919- Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 HEETSSHEET 2.

3 7 8 nwwto'z FEEDER 7? GATES 337$; alter/1401 terminals 17,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

raennarc 1. arm, or HARTFORD, commcricur, ASSIGNOR TO THE Anaow' rmnc'rmc column, or nan'rronn, conuncrrour, A coaroaa'rronor 001v- NECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC swrrcn.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,658.

'10 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERIG P. GA'rns, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Hartford, county of Hartford, and State; of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to flush switches, theob-. ject of my invention being to provide an improved operating mechanism for the switch, .and an improved fastening device for holding the cover plate in position on the switch body.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a broken plan of a switch in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the switch;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of certain associated elements of the switch mechanism.

lVhile certain features of the present mechanism may be embodied in switches of various types, I have here shown the invention applied to a flush switch adapted to be mounted in the usual fashion in a concealed outlet box, the installation being finished by a cover plate secured to the switch. As here shown the switch comprises an insulating body formed from two blocks of insulating material 10 and 11, re-

cessed on their meeting faces to form a switch chamber 12 within which the switch terminals and switch bar are confined. The blocks 10 and 11 are held in assembled position by a pair of bolts 13 and 14 piercing the end portions of the blocks and taking into straps 15 and 16 by means of which the switch is mounted in' an outlet box in a well known manner. The switch illustrated is of a double pole type, having four wire 18, 19 and 20 by which the current is led to the coiiperating pairs of terminals 21 and 22. 23 and 24. all of well known type. The switch bars 25 and 26 make and break the circuit between these terminals with a snap action under the infiuence of a switch spring 27. This spring is coiled upon the axis 28. and its legs 29 and 30 straddle the two bridge pieces 31 shown. the thumb and 32, the former extending between the opposite sides of the rocker 33 and the other extending between opposite sides of the switch bar carrier 34 to which the switch bars are secured, but insulated therefrom by insulating washers 35. The rocker is journaled upon the axis 28, and its opposite side pieces are provided with inclined bearing surfaces 36 against which work the shoulders 37 of the push plates 38 and 39, which are rectilinearly guided in the slots 40 and 41 formed in the opposite sides of the frame member 42. The latter is secured in position by screw bolts 43 and 44, which pierce the block 10 and take into tapped holes 45 and 46 in the base of the frame.

To actuate the push plates 38 and 39 I ha. e provided a lever 47 oscillating on the axis 48 and provided at its inner end with a pair of cam arms 49 and 50, the lower cam faces ofwhich bear against the push plates and are guided in slots 51 and 52 therein. At its outer end the lever 47 has secured thereto a thumb piece 53 projecting beyond the face plate 54 into position to be actuated by the operator, and by which the lever may be swung on its axis 48. As here piece 53 is separate from the lever '47 and comprises apair of legs which straddle the stem of the lever 47. which is preferably struck from sheet metal. and to which they are secured by a rivet 56, and by the pivot pin 48 which forms the axis of oscillation.

Obviously, when the thumb piece 53 is swung on its axis its motion is communicated to the lever 47. and its cam arms 49 and 50 are shifted. In Fig. 3 the switch is shown in on position. When the thumb piece 53 is swung to the right the arm 50 is depressed, and the arm 49 elevated. During the downward swing of the arm 50 its cam surface slides across the push plate 39 and depresses the latter. As the push plate moves downward its shoulders 37 bear upon the cam faces 36 of the rocker 33 and cause the latter to oscillate on the axis 28. The bridge piece 31 of the rocker moves to the left, carrying with it one of the ends of the switch spring 27, thus placing the latter under tension inasmuch as the switch bar carrier 34 is temporarily detained against oscillation by its lugs 57. which temporarily bear against the detaining margins 58 of the push plates 38 and 39. When the push plate 39 has moved a predetermined distance downward and the push plate 38 a corresponding distance upward under the action of the rocker, the lugs 57 escape the margins 58 of the push plates, and the'switch bar carrier 32 is then swung with a snap action into the off position of the switch under the influence of the switch spring 27 in a well understood manner.

The support for the lever 47 is afforded by a pair of standards 59 and 60 rising above the base of the frame 42 and terminating in arcuate segments 61 and 62 pierced in register at 63 to accommodate the pivot pin 48. lVhile these standards 59 and 60 might be formed integral with theframe 42, or be riveted thereto, I have here shown them carried by a complementary frame member having a base 64 overlying the base of the switch frame 42 and perforated at 65 to permit the passage of the bolts 43 and 44 therethrough so that this complementary frame member is clamped in position by the same bolts which hold the main frame 42 in position. Both frames 4-2 and 64 are apertured at 66 and 67 to permit the actuating lever 47 to pass downward therethrough into operating position.

The face plate 54 overlies the body of the switch and is apertured to permit the standards 59 and 60 to pass therethrough, the shape of the aperture being generally circular to conform to the shape of the arcuate segments 61 and 62, but being interrupted by lugs 68 which project into the space'be-' tween the segments and thus serve to posi tion the face plate accurately with relation to the switch body. The face plate is held in position by a ferrule 69 screwing upon the arcuate segments 61 and 62 and bearing against the outer face of the face plate. The central aperture 70 in the ferrule permits the thumb' piece 53 to pass therethrough, and in order to close this aperture against the admission of dirt and moisture to the interior of the switch the thumb piece is provided with a hub 71 which completely closes the aperture in all positions of the switch.

The precise details of the structure indicated may be variously modified by those skilled in the art Without departing from what I claim as my invention.

I claim 7 1. An electric switch comprising an oscillating rocker, a pair of rectilinearly guided push plates, an oscillating lever bearing upon said push plates and having a sliding engagement therewith, together with an rocker, a pair of rectilinearly guided push plates for operating the same, a frame hav-.

ing a base with guide wings for the push plates projecting from one side of said base, a pair of standards projecting from the opposite side of said base, an oscillating lever pivoted in said standards, and arms on said lever in sliding engagement with the push plates to shift the latter in opposite directions simultaneously in their guideways.

4. In an electric'switch, a switch frame, comprising a base, members projecting in one direction from said base, a switch-bar pivoted in said members, standards rigid with said base in the assembled switchand' projecting in the opposite direction from said base, a rocking lever pivoted in said standards, and mechanism operatively interposed between said rocking lever and switch bar and actuated by said lever for actuating the switch.

5. In an electric switch,,a frame member comprising a pair of standards having armate flanges, a cover plate apertured to permit said flanges to project therethrough,

. and a ferrule screwing-on said flanges and bearing against said cover plate to hold the latter in position, together with lugs on said face plate engaging between said arcuate flanges of the standards and serving to pos tion the face plate with relation to said frame element.

6. In an electric switch, a frame comprising a base having guide members projectin from one face thereof, and standards rigi with said base in the assembled switch and projecting from the opposite face thereof, switch mechanism carried by one of said members, and an operating lever carried by the standards and cotiperatingwith said switch mechanism to operate the latter, a face plate overlying the switch, and means engaging the standardsplate in position. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s cification.

, ,REDERIO P. GATES.

to hold said face 

